Pericarditis chest x ray

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

A flask-shaped, enlarged cardiac silhouette will be observed on chest x-ray in pericarditis complicated with pericardial effusion or tamponade. A mass may also be seen when malignancy is the cause. Calcification of pericardium may be noted in constrictive pericarditis.

In uncomplicated pericarditis, in the absence of a pericardial effusion or cardiac tamponade, the heart will not be enlarged on chest x ray.

A flask-shaped, enlarged cardiac silhouette will be observed on chest X ray in the setting of pericardial effusion or cardiac tamponade.

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